Column block

ABSTRACT

A building material apparatus forms a shaped structure about and protects a support. A plurality of blocks are stackable in vertical and horizontal positions such that the blocks stack vertically adjacent for a length of the column and horizontally adjacent for a perimeter of the column. The blocks are made of a material which may be restored to an original condition after being damaged. An inner surface of each block is sized and shaped to cooperate with the column such that the inner surface substantially abuts the column. A plurality of reinforcing members supports the blocks. The reinforcing members have a length based on the vertical length formed by the blocks and are disposed in between discontinuous surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks. An adhesive material securely joins the plurality of blocks to the reinforcing members.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to building material apparatus, and more particularly to arcuate shaped blocks used in forming a hollow column.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Columns are traditionally used in buildings and structures for support. Columns are positioned within a building at various positions and may be incorporated into a wall or stand alone. One use of columns that typically stand alone is in a building such as a warehouse, plant, or any structure in which a “room” has a large amount of undivided floor space. Columns can be made of a variety of materials such as steel, metal, wood, composite or combinations thereof. Materials are usually selected based on structural consideration of the building such that the column withstands the load of the ceiling and any above structure that it supports.

[0003] Unfortunately, the placement of columns standing alone exposes them to people or objects. Under certain circumstances, large objects such as cars or forklifts collide with the column and cause damage. Typical protection to a column provides a number of stronger reinforcing members adjacent to the column so that the reinforcing member impedes and absorbs any forces which would otherwise damage the column. One example of typical protection is by using reinforcing members of steel pipes arranged about the column such that any object directed for collision with the column is reacted against the pipes which absorb the energy. However, the strength of steel pipes is sometimes inadequate to withstand a collision. The pipes may deform and become unaesthetic. Furthermore, the additional floor space required to arrange individual pipes around a column is not always available. Additionally, floors or the ground may not provide adequate conditions to support the pipes and compromise the integrity of any protection provided by the pipes. Because columns can be of a variety of shapes, a protective member must be adaptable to the column size and shape and be adequately resistant to collisions. Repairability to maintain an aesthetic quality of the protective member may also be necessary in a building where minimal appearance of wear and tear is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A building material apparatus forms a shaped structure about and protects a support. A plurality of blocks are stackable in vertical and horizontal positions such that the blocks stack vertically adjacent for a length of the column and horizontally adjacent for a perimeter of the column. The blocks each have a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, and a first side and a second side. The first side and the second side are disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface and the top surface and the bottom surface. The blocks are made of a material which may be restored to an original condition after being damaged. The inner surface is sized and shaped to cooperate with the column such that the inner surface substantially abuts the column. The first side and the second side each have a discontinuous surface. A plurality of reinforcing members supports the blocks. The reinforcing members have a length based on the vertical length formed by the blocks and are disposed in between the discontinuous surfaces of horizontally adjacent blocks. An adhesive material securely joins the plurality of blocks at the first side and the second side to the reinforcing members and the top surface and the bottom surface.

[0005] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0007]FIG. 1 illustrates the prior art protective pipes that eliminate damage which would otherwise occur if an object collides with the column of FIG. 1;

[0008]FIG. 2 illustrates a typical column having a surface that is not damaged;

[0009]FIG. 3 illustrates the column of FIG. 2 damaged;

[0010]FIG. 4 illustrates a protective apparatus according to the present invention positioned about the column of FIG. 2;

[0011]FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the protective apparatus of FIG. 4 in an architectural environment with walls in close proximity;

[0012]FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a block of the protective apparatus of FIG. 4; and

[0013]FIG. 6a illustrates a cross sectional view of the protective apparatus according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014]FIG. 1 shows a prior art arrangement of pipes 22 about the column 10. Pipes 22 decrease the amount of floor space proximate to the column 10 and create somewhat unaesthetical architecture. Additionally, the pipes are easily damaged, and therefore limited to effectively protect against collision forces. Furthermore, a pipe 22 may require a complete replacement after it is damaged.

[0015]FIG. 2 shows a supporter column 10 that is used in building construction. Column 10 may be made from a variety of materials and may have an inner area 12 and an outer surface area 14 of different materials. For example, the inner area 12 of column 10 may be a first material 16 which reinforces the column 10, such as but not limited to, steel I-beam and a second material 18 which provides an external shape and additional support to column 10. The surface area 14 may be constructed of an easy to damage material such as fiberglass or a composite. Although the surface area may protect the inner area 12, it may not be able to withstand “wear and tear” associated with collisions. Fiberglass, a composite or other similar plastic materials are easy to damage and are difficult to repair.

[0016]FIG. 3 shows column 10 with a damaged portion 20 which is a result of a collision with a forklift, vehicle, or other object delivering a destructive force. The damaged portion 20 is difficult to repair because of the nature of the surface area material 14. The damaged portion 20 is a difficult region to add material for restoration, particularly if a desired aesthetic and a match of surface area material, such as fiberglass or a composite, is needed but not possible. Furthermore, the damaged portion 20 compromises the surface area 14 and inner area 12 by risk of further damage as any protection offered by the smooth surface area 14 is no longer provided.

[0017]FIGS. 4 and 5 show a protective apparatus 24 of the present invention formed as a ring-shaped column and disposed substantially around the column 10. The protective apparatus 24 includes an outer surface 26 and an inner surface 28. In the preferred embodiment, the inner surface 28 is sized and shaped to cooperate with the column 10 such that the inner surface 28 is proximately located to the column 10. The outer surface 26 forms a perimeter of any geometric shape, such as an oval, square, rectangle, triangle, or polygon, that is aesthetically or functionally desired. For example, a square-shaped perimeter may be formed to provide flat surfaces so that objects such as parking signs or the like may be easily attached to each side or surface of the column 10.

[0018] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 6a, protective apparatus 24 includes blocks 30 which form a substantially circular ring shape. The blocks 30 are shaped and sized to cooperate with the column 10. The blocks 30 are horizontally arranged to surround the perimeter of the column 10 and vertically arranged to surround the length of the column 10. The blocks 30 are made of a material which, if damaged by a collision force, may be easily repaired and restored to aesthetic appearance and structural integrity. For example, blocks made of concrete may be repaired and restored; however, it should be appreciated that any suitable material can be used. Each block 30 has an inner surface 32, an outer surface 34, a first side 36, a second side 38, a top surface 40 and a bottom surface 42. The inner surface 32 is sized and shaped to cooperate with the column at the inner surface 14. In the preferred embodiment, inner surface 32 and outer surface 34 are arcuate. However, it should be appreciated that either surface could be planar or any other desirable surface geometry. Top surface 40 and bottom surface 42 are also shaped to cooperate with a bottom surface and top surface, respectively, of other blocks vertically adjacent to each block 22. The first side 36 and second side 38 are each shaped to cooperate with a second side 32 and a first side 31, respectively, of other blocks positioned horizontally adjacent to and each block 22.

[0019] First side 36 and second side 38 each include mating portion 44 within which a notch 46 is formed. The mating portion 44 is sized and shaped to form a joint with a mating portion of a horizontally adjacent block. In the preferred embodiment, the mating portion 44 is substantially planar and abuts the mating portion 44′ of the horizontally adjacent block 30′. Notch 46 is sized and shaped to support a reinforcing member 48 on one side. The opposite side of the reinforcing member 42 is further supported by the horizontal adjacent block 30′ having a notch 40′ in the planar portion 38′. Reinforcing member 48 is preferably a rod that extends through a number of notches 40 of other protective apparatus 24 which are positioned on vertically adjacent to each other about the length of the column 10. One preferred material for reinforcing member 48 is steel. The reinforcing member 48 provides strength and support to protective apparatus 24. An adhesive 50 is provided between reinforcing member 48 and mating portion 44 of the blocks 30 such that the blocks 30 are secured in place. One preferred adhesive 50 is mortar, although any adhesive is suitable for securing the mating portions.

[0020] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A building material apparatus for forming a shaped structure about a column, comprising: a plurality of blocks operably stackable in vertical and horizontal positions such that the blocks stack vertically adjacent for a length of the column and horizontally adjacent for a perimeter of the column, said blocks each having a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side and a second side disposed between said inner surface and said outer surface and the top surface and the bottom surface, said blocks made of a material which may be restored to an original condition after being damaged; wherein said inner surface is sized and shaped to cooperate with the column such that the inner surface substantially abuts the column; wherein said first side and said second side each have a discontinuous surface; a plurality of reinforcing members operably supporting said plurality of blocks, said reinforcing members having a length based on said vertical length formed by the blocks and disposed in between said discontinuous surfaces of said horizontally adjacent blocks; and an adhesive material for securely joining the plurality of blocks at the first side and the second side to the reinforcing members and the top surface and the bottom surface.
 2. The building material apparatus of claim 1 wherein said discontinuous surface is defined by a cavity and a planar portion.
 3. The building material apparatus of claim 2 wherein said cavity is a substantially semicircular shape.
 4. The building material of claim 2 wherein each cavity supports a reinforcing member.
 5. A building material apparatus for forming a column shaped structure about a support, comprising: a top surface, a bottom surface, an inner surface, an outer surface, a first side and a second side disposed between said inner surface, said outer surface, said top surface and said bottom surface whereby a block is formed; said top surface sized and shaped to abut an adjacent block bottom surface and said bottom surface sized and shaped to abut an adjacent block top surface of vertically adjacent blocks; said first side sized and shaped to abut a second side of said horizontally adjacent block and said second side sized and shaped to abut a first side of said horizontally adjacent blocks; and said inner surface sized and shaped to abut said support.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further includes reinforcing members disposed between said horizontally adjacent blocks.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the first side and the second side each have a discontinuous surface.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the discontinuous surface is defined by a cavity.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first side of one block and the second side of one of the horizontally adjacent blocks are positioned such that the cavities are juxtaposed for supporting said reinforcing member.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 further includes adhesive material disposed between said blocks at the first sides, the second sides, the top surfaces and the bottom surfaces.
 11. A building method for arranging a plurality of shaped blocks to form a protective structure about a support, comprising: placing a plurality of shaped blocks in a horizontal and vertical series such that a desired portion of the support is surrounded, said shaped blocks having an original surface appearance; positioning at least one of the reinforcing members in a vertical position between said horizontally adjacent blocks, said reinforcing member having a length which extends a length of the blocks vertically positioned; disposing an adhesive deformable material operably securing said plurality of blocks and reinforcing members to each other, said adhesive deformable material located between said first side and said second side and said top surface and bottom surface; and repairing said shaped blocks which become damaged such that said original surface appearance is restored. 